So you cooked some wings for the big day on the Pit Boss, and a few of them ended up as leftovers. Now you’re wondering what’s the best way to reheat them? And whether or not they should be reheated in the microwave or pellet grill?
If so, you’re in the right place. We’re going to walk you through step by step how to reheat the wings so they are moist, crispy, and tender while using the Pit Boss pellet grill.
Can You Reheat Chicken Wings On A Pit Boss Pellet Grill?
Yes, the Pit Boss pellet grill is a versatile appliance that functions as an oven, making it easy to reheat your leftovers. That said, it’s important to vacuum seal the leftovers to eliminate the extra oxygen that can bacteria to ruin smoked foods. Eliminating the oxygen from the foods will help the foods retain their flavor, without becoming overly dry during the reheating process.
While most people (myself included) make it a point to cook the right number of wings so we don’t end up with a lot of leftovers. Unfortunately, it does happen and when it does, it leaves you wondering what’s the best way to reheat them?
Most people store leftovers in the fridge improperly, only to realize the wings come out dry no matter if they reheat them in the toaster oven, microwave, stove, or pellet grill.
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It’s important to use a vacuum sealer to store your smoke foods before reheating them. Improperly stored foods make them susceptible to oxygen, which allows bacteria and mold to grow.
Vacuum sealing leftovers prevents the oxygen from ruining the food, as there’s no way for air to make its way through the packaging.
Think of it as a bodysuit for your food, that protects it from outside elements till you’re ready to eat it.
Every kitchen should have one and the best part is they are not that expensive.
- Food vacuum sealer removes air from specially designed bags. Multi- layer material heat seals to keep air out and prevent freezer burn, reduces spoilage and food waste. And cooking and meal preparation will become easier, more economical and faster
- Two Sealing Modes: Geryon vacuum food sealer is designed with two selectable modes to provide your food with best possible preservation based on your different types of food. You can also reseal bags of rolls, snacks that you only want to seal
- Separated Design: you can take off the upper lid to clean the sealer machine easily & safely. Compact size and lightweight design are easy to store and move around. Fits up to 12" width Geryon or other brand vacuum sealer bags and rolls
- Geryon sealer machine designed with fully automatic vacuum sealing operation, soft touch digital buttons, LED indicator lights, electric plug in and the control center placed on the top panel provides a user- friendly experience for its operator
- Fully Starter Kits: 1x Air suction hose,5 x Heat-seal bags (7.8"*11.8"),1 x roll (7.8"*78"),1xUser Manual, 1 x Vacuum Sealer; Manufacturer's Lifetime Support
It’s also a great way to keep your foods from freezer burn. The vacuum-sealed bag prevents moisture from penetrating the meat, therefore increasing the shelf life.
According to the USDA, cooked chicken can be kept in the freezer for up to four months.
If you’re planning on reheating the leftovers in the next day or two, you can store them in an airtight container or ziplock back.
Just make sure you squeeze the air of the bag, to help keep them fresh for up to 3-4 days.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the proper steps to reheat wings using the Pit Boss pellet grill. It won’t taste as good as the first time around, but it will still be pretty amazing, whether you eat it the next day or the next month.
But first, let’s take a look at why the Pit Boss makes it easy to reheat leftovers.
Using the Pit Boss to Reheat Leftovers
Pellet grills are very popular and it’s no wonder why. These grills are extremely versatile and do so much more than traditional charcoal, gas, and propane grills. The pellet grills generate heat through combustion, and circulate heat through a fan system, much like a convection oven.
I’ve talked more in-depth article that explains why they are so popular and if they’re worth it. So be sure to read it, especially, if you’re in the market for one.
How do You Reheat Chicken Wings?
Reheating chicken wings will vary depending on the type of wings you’re attempting to reheat.
Frozen
If the wings have been vacuum-sealed, and have been sitting in the freezer. Remove them from the freezer and place them in the fridge two days before you plan on reheating them. This will help them thaw out while sitting in the refrigerator.
Thawing the wings in the fridge takes the longest. If you forgot to pull the wings out a couple of days in advance, you’ll have to thaw them out in the microwave or cold water. I’ve written a step-by-step guide on how to thaw chicken wings properly.
Day Old Wings
Most people like myself end up eating the leftovers the next day or two days after preparing them. If this is the case, there isn’t much to do, but take the wings out of the fridge and prep them for reheating.
Reheating Wings on the Pit Boss Pellet Grill – Step by Step
Here’s how to reheat your cold wings from the fridge to a hot, reheated chicken wing on the pellet grill.
- Preheat the grill to 350-400°F
- Use your favorite wood pellets
- Position the wings on the grill or use a wing rack
- Close the lid and let them cook for about 8-12 minutes or till your liking
- Let them rest before serving
- Enjoy
I’ll cover the steps in more detail below.
Step One: Preheating the Grill
While you’re prepping the wings, go outside and plug the grill in and set the temperature between 350° to 400° degrees.
Remember, the wings are already cooked, so you don’t have to worry about getting them to a good internal temperature.
That said, if the wings were undercooked the first time, you will want to leave them on the grill till they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Therefore, you don’t want the wings sitting in the pellet grill too long, otherwise, the smoke may dry them out. I’ve found that wrapping the leftovers in aluminum foil protects them from being dried out from the smoke.
The foil will also keep the skin from drying out, as they will sit in the juices. However, the aluminum foil will prevent the smoky flavor from penetrating the meat.
Step Two: Best Pellets to Use for Reheating Wings
This is the one time it doesn’t matter which pellets you use, as the wings aren’t going to be on the grill long enough. Whatever you have in the hopper will be fine.
Step Three: Put the Wings on the Rack
Once the heat has reached the proper temperature, place the wings on the primary cooking rack.
If you don’t want the wings to stick, you can consider using a wing rack, which will keep the wings off the rack and ensures they are evenly cooked.
This chicken wing rack has 14 slots that can hold any size of wings or legs.
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- 🍗FOLDING STAND - The rack could fold up and fits inside the pan for very economical storage if you take it for your barbecue party
- 🍗VERSATILE PAN - The pan not only keeps the juices from dripping on the coals or heat deflector in the smoker but also cooks vegetables in bbq juices
- 🍗HIGH QUALITY STAINLESS STEEL - Dishwasher safe, easy to clean in warm water by hands and patted dry to prevent water spot mark
- 🍗OUR PROMISE- We are confident that this stainless steel chicken leg rack will meet and exceed your expectations. Full refund or replacement is available if you are not 100% satisfied. In addition, this is also a surprise gift for father who love barbecue.
The tapered slots make it easy to place and remove the chicken with ease. It’s a versatile pan that keeps the juices from dripping into the grill.
It can also cook vegetables, sauces, and etc to help give the meat more flavor. It’s perfect for reheating or cooking your wings on the grill.
Step Four: Close the Lid and Monitor
After placing the wings on the rack or wing rack, close the lid. It won’t take long for the wings to heat up. During this time, you can get the pull out the cooling rack, cut up celery, or any sides.
Reheat them for about five to six minutes on one side. Then open the lid and flip them and continue to heat them for another five to six minutes.
If you’re using a wing rack, you won’t have to worry about flipping them as the wings will reheat evenly without any effort on your part.
How Long to Reheat The Wings on the Pit Boss?
If you’re preheating the wings at 350°F, it will take about 12-20 minutes for them to warm up. At 450°F it can take anywhere from 10-15 minutes. Times will vary depending on the number of wings, outside and cooking temperature, and your personal preference.
The best thing to do is to keep checking the wings often, to make sure they don’t overcook. Otherwise, you’ll end up with dry leftover wings that no one wants to use.
Resting Period
It’s always best to let the wings rest for a few minutes after pulling them off the grill. The resting period allows the juices to distribute through the meat, making every bite juicer.
That said, the meat has already been cooked once, so it’s not going to be as fresh as it was the day it was first cooked.
Allowing the wings to rest ensures you don’t burn your lips or tongue from trying to eat them while they’re too hot. Preheated chicken wings only need about 2-3 minutes of resting time, or at least until they are not too hot for you to hold and eat.
If the wings are a little dry, then add some more bbq sauce. You can even dip the wings in ranch, blue cheese or your favorite dipping sauce.
Final Word
The Pit Boss makes it easy to day-old leftovers or frozen chicken wings. The important thing to remember is to reheat them at a higher temperature, so you don’t leave them on the grill too long.
If you’re reheating store-bought wings, you’ll want to follow the instructions on the back of the box. Homemade leftovers will take about 10-15 minutes to reheat the wings on the grill.
It will take some time to get used to using the grill to reheat your food because it’s trickier than using the microwave, air fryer, or oven. However, once you realize how much the pellet grill can do, you’ll never go back to eating microwaved wings.
Leftover chicken wings are an all-time favorite tasty snack. The next time you have some leftovers, throw them on the grill for a few minutes and you’ll be surprised at how tasty they can be!
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